Sir we are dealing in modern times.
And in past we ha dominated IAF always. Why? Better plains, better pilots. We can never surpass them in numbers. But now we lack both quantity and quality, got better pilots, but in modern wars fight depends more on quality of machine rather than quality of man........
Just to consider, IAF got 200 of Su30
Sir we are living in modern times now.
Now it's less a man, more a machine to win a battle.
In past PAF have dominated IAF every time due to quality of its fighter planes as well as pilots. We can never surpass IAF in quantity, but yes in Quality.
But now we lags behind in both......
IAF has 200 MKI which is heavy AIR craft with awesome capabilities. We got nothing to counter them in our arsenal.
Similarly they are indicting Rafales which have enough range to fly from India, cross Pakistan, say hello to Afghanistan, and return back.....
PAF is integrating single engine light air crafts which will not provide us strategic depths.
They can bomb our capital. We can't thanks to the type of air crafts we got......
There is desperate need for heavy air craft. Could be Eagle, could be flanker, could be Typhoons in large numbers. And plz let money game go....... we must have money. If we cannot spend money in peace times. Then in war times, we will have to spend 10 times more......
Sir,
After reading through your response, you have painted a very grim and misleading picture about the current state of the PAF. I will not try to argue the fact that Pakistan needs to invest in a heavy fighter platform, whether Chinese or Western origin, but some of your statements are pure speculations which causes a domino effect of panic in this forum.
Throughout the 1965 and 1971 war, the PAF on paper was always slated to loose against the IAF due the aircraft's possessed on each side. At the start of the 65 war, IAF contained 466 aircraft, 10 mig21 (K-13 capable), 80 Gnats, 96 Hunters, 80 Mystere, 48 Toofani, 80 Vampires,and 72 Canberra. The PAF at the time could only muster 203 aircraft. 12 f104(sidewinder capable), 116 f86 Sabres (25% Sidewinder capable), 32 Canberras, and the rest were training aircraft. During the 65 war, PAF lacked a true fighter bomber for ground attack, which the Indians made up for in the Toofani and Mystere in ample numbers. However, PAF pilots successful used the f86 as a ground attack aircraft along with the Canberras as a result of their skills. The Saber was no match for the Hunters and Gnats in air to air combat. The Hunter had many advantages over the Sabre, which include higher service ceiling, better armaments, and longer range. The only advantage the PAF had was the f104, which was not designed for air to air combat either, but rather shooting down enemy bombers, but we had limited numbers. Despite being a tiger on paper, the training and tactics used in inferior aircraft propelled the PAF to a shocking victory against the better armed but poorly trained IAF. Same story goes for the 71 war. It doesn't matter if we are in a modern age or not, man will always decided the faith of war. Being strong on paper is mere speculation, but having history to support you is another thing
I find it appalling to read and agree with even a sentence in your second statement. Owing a massive flight of fighter aircraft is no child's plays. Only in a fictional world are all your aircraft and equipment serviceable for combat. While the Su30 is a potent aircraft,but also a very fragile aircraft as well. According to
India defence minister admits Su-30 serviceability issues - IHS Jane's 360 The IAF operates 200 Su-30MKIs, but of these only 110 or 55% were operationally. In a time of war Indian can not afford to send all there jets against Pakistan because India has to worry about its border with China and Bangladesh. On the other hand, Pakistan can afford to send all its aircraft towards India. Having a massive aircraft like the Mig29 or Su30 come with the consequence of a High RCS, as a result lack of surprise are lost as soon as take off. The debate whether the massive su30 radar will find a enemy target first or the high RCS gives away the su30 first is a thesis only provable in a war time situation. Your statement about not being able to bomb New Delhi can not be more false. For example in a strategic strike mission against New Delhi, PAF would most likely use Mirages and f16s. The distance from Karachi to New Delhi is 679.95 miles in a straight line. Both the mirage and f16 have combat ranges that exceed that distance. For a Strike, cruise missiles are also a option. Until the Rafael aircraft is operational, it is not a threat at the current stage but a counter-strategic should be available in the future.
The IAF always had a edge in quantity and quality against the PAF, but superior training and tactics showed who dominated the sky of the subcontinent. It will always be a mans war to fight not a machines. In the Vietnam War, the USAF removed cannons from fighter jets because they believed modern air-air missiles had replaced them, but the Americans learned the hard way from experience that skills are required in modern warfare. Relying entirely on modern equipment is a sure sign of lack of skills. Only a fool will repeat the mistakes of others, a wise person learns from history and improves himself.
